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Death Oath

of the
Sword of the Spirit
~ The Thomas Yoder Papers, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor ~

Included in the following documents are two sets of notes that were donated to the Thomas Yoder papers that
describe the "oath" that select Sword of the Spirit members took towards the completion of the "Training
Program." This program ran for several years and the Yoder files contain three complete sets of notes from
three different years. The Training Program was also offered once in the Servants of Christ the King in
Steubenville, OH.I It is also referred to in the article "Schism in Ann Arbor" by Fidelity Magazine?

Some people will attempt to minimize the idea that SOS members took an oath to die for their "brothers and
sisters." But the facts behind such an oath are troublesome given the circumstances:

a) The leaders of the Sword of the Spirit were not accountable to anyone but themselves;

b) Any leader could have "heard god tell them," that all or certain people were to fulfill the oath;

c) Similar things have happened in the recent past, the most notorious of which was the events in
Jonestown in 1978 where 909 people died. Even though no one has ever been shown to have completed
the "death oath" described in SOS Training Programs, disturbing similarities exist. Both the Jonestown
event and the SOS teachings indicate significant levels of conflict with the world around them, and both
were retreating into protective stances against the world and those they perceived to be their "enemies.,,3

Adding to these concerns was the fact that the Sword of the Spirit actually believed that "Days of Darkness"
were about to fall on the Earth. In the Sword of the Spirit Policy Notebook", page 2, the leaders go into specific
detail reguarding these beliefs noting that, "it is a matter of years, not decades." In Steubenville OH, Fr
Michael Scanlan used the dire predictions of past and current Marian Apparitions to reinforce the "Days of
Darkness'f," mentality among SOS members of that community. All these factors worked together to create a
toxic atmosphere of fear and "loyalty" to the "commanders" (no longer Shepherds or even "coordinators") of
the Sword of the Spirit.

John Flaherty, Grand Island, NE June 2, 2011

1 http://www.scribd.com/doc/38693970

2 http://www.scribd.com/doc/20435349
3 http://en.wikipedia.org!wiki/Jim_Jones
4 http://www.scribd.com/doc/19142540

5 http://www.mediafire.com/download.php ?drm56r9c405gcoO
6 http://www.scribd.com/doc/52356465
STATEMEi'I"T OF COMMITMENT

1. We pledge our loyalty to all who fight with us.

2. ~e are ready for every sacrifice, even death, if the Lord honors us by
~calling us to die for him or our brothers.

3. We are ready to serve until the Lord indicates that the war has been won.
4. We will be loyal to our commanders, knowing that they are committed to
defend and provide for our homes and families. We will serve where they
direct us and in the way they direct us.

5. We will keep our plans and movements hidden from the enemy and his agents.

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